Cubs 34-21
Rockies 20-35
POTG: CF Jim Edmonds (HR, 2B, 3 H, 2 R, 3 RBI)
Runner Up: 1B D Lee (2 H, R), C Henry Blanco (2 H, HR, R, RBI), 1B Hoff Power (2 H, 2 R, 2B), RF Fukudome (HR, 2 H, 2 R, RBI, BB), 3B DeRsoa (HR, SF, 3 RBI)
I have no problem admitting I gave up on this game. It was a Friday, I had things to catch up on, and it looked pretty much over at 9-1. The team gave up too – Derrek got pulled, Soto got pulled, Ram was never in the lineup. The guys in the lineup, especially the guys who came in, they didn’t give up.
There’s a story here that only works a few weeks out, but it’s seemed pretty likely at the time. Jim Edmonds dropped a fly ball in the 3rd. It was an error, a pretty clear one, and gave the Rockies one more out in the inning which turned the game from a somewhat close 4-0 to a 7-0 disaster. The vultures were already circling Edmonds in the days before. If the Cubs did not come in this game, with Edmonds playing a big part in it, then he’s probably cut by the end of the weekend and his Cubs stint is only remembered as a weird misstep to end his career. I was willing to give up on this game because I was content with how many wins the team already, but guys like Edmonds, Blanco (backup catchers are replaceable) and DeRosa (a million trade rumors) can’t ever really be content with taking an at bat off, and that was all the difference here.
DeRosa’s home run has to be one of the top 5 moments of the season. Although I wouldn’t mind even better moments pushing it down and making me wrong.